HeyRuaHow to say “legend” in Irish
- Irish:
- finscéal
- English:
- legend, fable
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FIN-shkayl” /ˈfʲiːnʲʃcel/
- Plural:
- finscéalta (legends)
- Genitive singular:
- finscéil, an fhinscéil (e.g. laoch an fhinscéil, the hero of the legend)
- Genitive plural:
- finscéalta, na bhfinscéalta (e.g. bailiúchán na bhfinscéalta, the collection of legends)
What does “finscéal” mean?
“Finscéal” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- legend
- A traditional story about extraordinary events in the past that may or may not be true.Also: myth, folk tale.
“Finscéal” with the article
The plural of legend in Irish is finscéalta. Here is finscéal after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Finscéal” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using finscéal, the Irish word for legend.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Legend in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for legend?
The Irish for legend is finscéal (pronounced “FIN-shkayl”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is finscéalta. Depending on context it can also mean fable.
How do you pronounce finscéal in Irish?
Finscéal is said like “FIN-shkayl” (IPA /ˈfʲiːnʲʃcel/).
What is the plural of legend in Irish?
The plural of finscéal is finscéalta; with the article, na finscéalta means “the legends”. The genitive plural is finscéalta, as in bailiúchán na bhfinscéalta (the collection of legends).
Does finscéal have more than one meaning?
Yes. Finscéal can mean legend or fable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does finscéal change to fhinscéal or bhfinscéal?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) finscéal becomes m'fhinscéal (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfinscéal (eclipsis).
What is the difference between finscéal and miotas?
A finscéal is a legend or fanciful story in general, while miotas means a myth, usually about gods or origins. Both are close and often overlap.
Does finscéal mean fiction?
It can be used for fiction in the sense of an invented story, as in 'is iontaí fírinne ná finscéal', but prose fiction as a literary genre is usually ficsean.
